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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
16:11
Thermochemical Studies of Ni(II) and Zn(II) Ternary Complexes Using Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry
Published on: June 8, 2022
Electronic stabilization effects: three new K-In-T (T = Mg, Au, Zn) network compounds
1Ames Laboratory, Department of Energy, and Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA.
Inorganic Chemistry
|October 24, 2006
Summary
New ternary compounds containing potassium, indium, and magnesium, gold, or zinc were synthesized. These compounds feature complex 3D anionic networks with fused icosahedra, stabilized by electronic tuning and element size.
Area of Science:
- Solid-state chemistry
- Inorganic chemistry
- Materials science
Background:
- Ternary compounds offer unique structural and electronic properties.
- Previous studies explored alkali metal-indium lattices with lithium substitutions.
- Understanding structure-property relationships in complex intermetallic phases is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- Synthesize and structurally characterize novel ternary potassium-indium-magnesium, potassium-indium-gold, and potassium-indium-zinc compounds.
- Investigate the structural role of substituted elements (Mg, Au, Zn) in the K(34)In(105) lattice.
- Analyze the electronic and structural factors influencing phase stabilization.
Main Methods:
- High-temperature synthesis techniques.
- Single-crystal X-ray diffraction for structural determination.
- Extended Hückel electronic structure calculations.
Main Results:
- Successful synthesis and characterization of K(34)In(91.05(9))Mg(13.95(9)), K(34)In(96.19(6))Au(8.81(6)), and K(34)In(89.95(1))Zn(13.05(7)).
- All compounds exhibit complex 3D anionic networks comprising In(12) and M(28) icosahedral clusters.
- Potassium atoms form K(136) clathrate-type networks, bridging between cluster faces/edges.
- M(28) units are linked by single M atoms or M-M dimers, forming sandwich structures.
- Mixed indium/substituent (Mg, Au, Zn) sites are observed within the M(28) clusters.
- Electronic tuning via substitution of electron-poorer elements (Mg, Au, Zn) stabilizes the phases.
- Extended Hückel analysis suggests optimized metal-metal bonding in Mg and Zn compounds.
- Element size significantly impacts structural features, particularly in the zinc compound.
Conclusions:
- The synthesized ternary compounds represent new analogues in the K(34)In(105) system.
- Structural complexity arises from fused icosahedral clusters and specific linking motifs.
- Electronic and steric effects of substituted elements play key roles in phase formation and stabilization.
- Further research can explore tuning properties through controlled substitution in such complex intermetallic frameworks.
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